Washington (CNN) – A group of House conservatives gathered Sunday on the Senate side of Capitol Hill to call their Senate colleagues back to work as the government continues to creep toward a government shutdown.

"This is the old football strategy," Rep. Tim Griffin of Arkansas said at the news conference, holding a football. "When you get to where you want to be in a football game, you run out the clock."Follow @politicaltickerFollow @KilloughCNN

"If they really cared whether this government would shut down or not, they would be here instead of saying they'd be back tomorrow afternoon," he added. "At some late hour, they'll pass something and then they'll say 'Oh my gosh, we've run out of time'."

The Republican-controlled House sent back a short-term spending bill in the wee hours of Sunday morning to the Senate with two anti-Obamacare provisions attached: a one-year delay of the federal health care law and a repeal of the medical device tax.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned on Saturday the Senate would reject any provision in the bill that chips away at Obamacare, and the White House issued a veto threat as well. But the House passed the bill anyway, and if Congress doesn't reach an agreement by midnight Monday, the government goes into a shutdown.

Democrats argue Republicans are to blame for using a reckless strategy to slash the president's signature health care law through a bill meant to fund the government. Republicans argue their plan keeps the government afloat, and as for the Obamacare maneuver, they say they're simply listening to their constituents.

Reid did not call the Senate back to work on Sunday, and the chamber is set to reconvene at 2 p.m. ET, 10 hours before the deadline.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, joked at the news conference that the group of representatives could make a country album. Instead of "O Brother, Where Art Thou," she said it would be "O Senate Where Art Thou?"

One by one, the Republicans continued to bash the Senate for not working on Sunday, when the House worked late the night before.

"Unlock those doors, I say to Harry Reid, and come out," said Rep. Ann Wagner of Missouri.

Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas lamented that Senate Democrats and the president keep saying "Obamacare is the law, so just forget about it."

Gohmert added that the debt ceiling is also "the law."

"Unless you want that shoved back in your face, then you need to be flexible," he said.

soundoff(123 Responses)

Let there be a shutdown please and call the bluff of the Godless GOP who pretend to be christians but are all agents of Satan.

September 29, 2013 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

CB FL

I hope the people that elected these idiots get hurt the worst over this shut down.

September 29, 2013 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |

Say no to the TP, John

While the House is complaining that the Senate isn't working today (and I agree with that), why is working now even necessary? If both groups hadn't taken 5 weeks off in August/September, maybe they could have passed a real full-year budget. But now, it's all about coming down to the wire and trying to blame the other side. I really hope next year all Tea Partiers up for re-election get thoroughly trounced. And Boehner needs to man up and realize that the House is being held hostage by a small vocal minority.

September 29, 2013 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

So Sick of Republicans

If republicans actually worked for the people and Nation, they would not be holding the Gov hostage once more just to get their way.

September 29, 2013 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

MJ

Have to wonder why Obama spent so much time the last few weeks in visiting Colleges to recruit students to his Obama Care .. Do you know a child up to 26 can be married, live in another state, employed or not, and qualify under their parents insurance? How many students do you think do NOT fall into this criteria?

September 29, 2013 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

Tom

I love how the Republicans seem to think the Democrats are obliged to negotiate on this silly, one-sided proposal. Republicans painted themselves into this corner and Democrats seem happy to sit back and watch the Republican Party self-destruct.

September 29, 2013 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |

Ray Bown

Its is the Democrats and White house that is shutting it down. They can say it over and over but when it come down to it. Republicans sent a compromise and stayed late last night to do it. Where is the other side, taking the day off? why. You dont want a shut down, than go back to work. I think what they house sent over was a reasonable compromise.

September 29, 2013 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |

Paul Deemer

No Deals, No Negotiations on ACA (Obamacare) You couldn't Real it 42 Times, You couldn't Defund it and your NOT gonna Get a Delay! So either pass a clean bill or go home!

September 29, 2013 05:38 pm at 5:38 pm |

Kieran

I feel like the Republicans are insulting my intelligence. They think that whoever is holding the bill when time runs out will be seen as responsible for the shutdown. Sorry, but I'm not that stupid. The party responsible for the government shutting down is the party which threatened to shut it down if they don't get their way – the Republicans. It doesn't matter which side is holding the bill at any one time.

September 29, 2013 05:39 pm at 5:39 pm |

Michael Benjamin

Unlike the amateurs in the Republican Party who haven't a clue on what to do. Running out the clock will leave the Republicans holding the bag. To all the mindless Republicans keep following your hero Senator Cruz over the cliff.

September 29, 2013 05:43 pm at 5:43 pm |

FrankinSD

When the Senate passes a clean CR Monday (late afternoon or early evening) the House GOP will get to decide whether there is a shutdown or not. Isn't that what they want?

September 29, 2013 05:44 pm at 5:44 pm |

Dan5404

There is no hurry. The Senate would never pass anything except a clean bill. The Republicans brought up the matter of holding the CR and debt ceiling hostage, trying to force negotiations on two things that have never been negotiating matters ad never should be. They can't get their pet projects through by regular votes, so they try the blackmail route. Well, the American people already blame the Republicans 51-54% for any shutdown and Obama gets 25-33% blame. So, guess who's going to lose besides the country and hard-working people who are the victims of these extremists? They will find out at the polls and in thousands of angry messages from voters who are sick of these guys.

September 29, 2013 05:46 pm at 5:46 pm |

brnfream

Too bad that President Obama is so thick headed that he can not see there are many many reasons to repeal obamacare. How can he possibly think that his "signature Legislation" is any good or a credit to him? The democrats will follow Obama blindly and possibly shut down the federal government, for what reason? Do they even know how much damage is being caused by the ACA? Have they even paid attention?

September 29, 2013 05:49 pm at 5:49 pm |

TonyInNYC

"We put a poison pill in the bill and Democrats don't want to swallow it. How dare they run out the clock and make us look bad!" - the Republicans.

September 29, 2013 05:49 pm at 5:49 pm |

J.V.Hodgson

There is only one comment worth making here about why we are at this farcical situation,
It goes back to when three GOP senators prevented the Senate version of a budget going to reconciliation. The purpose of said procedure is to negotiate the budget revenue, taxes, and spending or entitlement cuts.
With a dash of common sense, and a big splash of compromise,,,, an agreed budget = whatever debt increase is needed because the budget deficit = the minimum amount you need to Increase the debt ceiling
So what's the count now? 44 lost votes to gut or stop PPACA . Such a silly waste of time..
Even if the Senate does not vote it down President Obama will veto it.
The farce is two fold:-
1) Proposing to defund Obama care is virtually impossible, savings if any are miniscule, Technically it achieves virtually nothing.
2) They could have spent over 3/4 months trying to make the spending or entitlement cuts and the counter party the Immigration bill and a bi partisan tax reform to a committee. to resolve by 31.10.2013.
(With an IMF senior regional director position as voting external advisor who can vote to break gridlock only with binding recommendations.
Regards,
Hodgson

2)

September 29, 2013 05:57 pm at 5:57 pm |

Rick McDaniel

That's their choice.

September 29, 2013 06:01 pm at 6:01 pm |

janskor

Here we go again ...blame the other party. Perhaps thr republicans irmly believe Obamacare is not good for the people because they really believe it isn't Why should they just go along with obama and the democrats? Let the government shut down if the decision is right. I have no problem with that...it would only be non-essential workers anyway. This is too important to just go along with it. I'd rather have the dissent then total agreement just for the sake of having things go smoothly.

September 29, 2013 06:05 pm at 6:05 pm |

Cal

GOP still stuck on stupid. Quit playing games GOP and pass a clean bill. Cut the B.S.

September 29, 2013 06:11 pm at 6:11 pm |

callmecrazy

So it's a football analogy this time instead of green eggs and ham. At least the intelligence level increased, but it's just as stupid. House republicans are toast.

September 29, 2013 06:13 pm at 6:13 pm |

Charles

ObamaCare is the Law. Get used to it. What you not understand about that.

September 29, 2013 06:13 pm at 6:13 pm |

a obamintion

congress needs to hold off on a budget until obama is replaced with a president!.....

September 29, 2013 06:16 pm at 6:16 pm |

Evergreen

The House did not cut their vacation short in order to work on the funding bill (or any other bill). This is just more stunts and "green eggs & ham" grandstanding.

September 29, 2013 06:17 pm at 6:17 pm |

billythev

The Republicans have played this game too many times. They can't repeal the health care low through normal means, so they basically threaten to take down the government unless they get their way. It is unfortunate that the moderates left in the party can't get together with the moderate democrats to come up with real solutions. I am a federal employee, and I am not in favor of all of the health care law. But, I would rather have the government shut down than have the country give into extortionists.

September 29, 2013 06:21 pm at 6:21 pm |

TheLeftWing

Nobody likes the kid that says if I don't get my way I'm going to take my ball and go home. Republicans are even worse than that kid. It's not their ball. They just want to poke a hole in the school's ball if they don't get their way. Republicans are immature spoiled brats.

September 29, 2013 06:33 pm at 6:33 pm |

Chuck

Then this will be on the Senates head, you know its not that hard to find the forums
where the TRUTH about whats happening can be read. In Democratic Forums they
Want to Shut Down the Government to get back at the GOP, it was planed from the start.